How To Get Teens Talking About Gender Roles and Gender Equity
Learn about a fantastic (and free!) new program that encourages teens to think critically about restrictive gender expectations.
Hi readers!
Thank you so much for sharing this newsletter - I really appreciate it. New people sign up every day, and it’s almost always because of a recommendation from someone they trust. And thank you to those of you who subscribe - it’s the best way to show your support for this work.
Today I’m excited to share a new project that’s designed to get teens thinking and talking about gender equity. I’ve always thought about gender roles and gender expectations a lot. As a kid, I grew up listening to “Free to Be... You and Me“ on repeat, while living in (and sometimes wrestling with) the gender expectations of the world around me. Gender roles have been front of mind for me over the past year as I’ve been co-writing a book called “Talk To Your Boys.”
I welcome new ideas about how to engage folks in these conversations, and I hope GET: The Project helps you talk about gender roles with the young people in your life.
Big love,
Christopher
What’s GET: The Project?
GET: THE PROJECT is a bold, new strategic initiative from The Representation Project that provides comprehensive tools to empower youth, educators, counselors, coaches, and parents to leverage film and media for cultural change within their communities. Developed in collaboration with experts in curriculum design, gender justice, education, mental health, and youth advocacy, and with insightful input from their Youth Advisory Council, the program is offered FREE to all.
⭐ THE CURRICULUM
GET: The Project Curriculum (Gender Equity Training) is an eight-module curriculum for high school and college students. GET encourages students to have unflinching conversations about the most pressing problems they face today. It reflects the needs of Generation Z, weaving together leadership development, mental health interventions, media literacy, social-emotional learning, and gender-based violence prevention. The curriculum is FREE and available to all. Workshops can be facilitated as a series or individually. Learn more HERE.
⭐ THE ONLINE HUB
GET: The Project Hub is an online gender equity platform for passionate youth to learn together, develop skills, and build community. The Hub houses courses and educational offerings, and virtually connects local GET: The Project club leaders to an extended group of like-minded peers. Learn more HERE.
⭐ THE YOUTH CLUBS
GET: The Project Clubs are designed to connect young people with the mission of The Representation Project, providing opportunities to develop leadership skills, share the Gender Equity Training curriculum with peers, create community, and take action for gender justice. Learn more HERE.
Young People Built This Project
Ariella Neckritz (they/she) is the Director of Youth Programs at The Representation Project, where they lead initiatives to foster gender equity and empower young change-makers. Ariella developed the Gender Equity Training Project and oversees the Youth Advisory Council. The Representation Project’s films and curricula have reached nearly 30 million individuals globally and over 2.6 million youth. Ariella was also featured in The Representation Project’s documentary Miss Representation.
Why do you believe young people need to think critically about gender roles?
Restrictive gender roles contribute to harmful gender stereotypes, body image issues, and unequal power dynamics. Encouraging critical thinking about these roles empowers youth to challenge those norms and achieve their full potential, allowing them to become who they want to be rather than conforming to who society tells them they need to be.
How did this project come together? What role did young people play in creating it?
The GET: The Project came together through collaboration between experts in education, gender justice, and youth advocacy. It was inspired by our founder, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who aimed to create a comprehensive resource that speaks to the current needs of Gen Z. The curriculum brings together critical issues highlighted in our films, such as media representation, healthy masculinity, gender bias, and equity in the home. It was designed for, and informed by, high school and college students, integrating valuable feedback from our Youth Advisory Council and student pilot facilitators. Their insights ensured that the curriculum resonates with young people and effectively addresses the pressing challenges they face today.
How would you like to see the project used in schools or in the wider community?
I would love to see the Gender Equity Training Curriculum used as a foundational tool in schools, community centers, and youth-serving organizations. It can be implemented in classroom settings, after-school programs, or by peer-led groups. The multimedia workshops can be delivered as a series or implemented individually and would be great for school assemblies, advisory groups, freshman orientations, dormitory workshops, affinity cohorts, leadership councils, or student organizations.
How would you recommend a classroom teacher use these materials? Are their specific types of teachers you are trying to reach?
The curriculum aims to support educators teaching subjects such as Health, History, Media, Communications, Arts, Sociology, Psychology, Gender Studies, and Political Science. It fosters discussions on social-emotional learning, media literacy, mental health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This curriculum can be implemented as a standalone workshop, offered as a series of sessions, or seamlessly integrated into existing lesson plans. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation and a facilitation guide, equipping teachers to easily explore these critical topics with their students.
How would you recommend a therapist or a small group facilitator use these materials? What kinds of settings do you think would be best?
Therapists or small group facilitators could use GET materials in group therapy or youth workshops, especially when addressing topics like healthy relationships, consent, body image, social media, healthy masculinity, and mental health. The structured discussions, activities, and multimedia approach make it easy to facilitate while fostering reflection and empathy among participants.
What kind of knowledge or training do adult facilitators need to have to make good use of this project?
The curriculum is designed to be approachable, so facilitators don’t need specialized training to use it effectively. The facilitation guide offers step-by-step instructions and a script for leading workshops. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or youth leader, if you’re passionate about fostering gender equity, you’re equipped to facilitate these workshops.
Were you intentional about trying to make this project engaging for boys and men? Why was that important to you?
We were very intentional about ensuring that the materials engage everyone—boys, girls, and gender-expansive youth—because everyone is impacted by harmful and restrictive gender norms and stereotypes. The module on Healthy Masculinities specifically addresses the effects of these norms on boys and men, but the curriculum as a whole was designed to include all young people in the conversation. Progress can only be made when everyone is part of the solution. Encouraging all youth to embrace empathy, vulnerability, and respect is critical to creating a more equitable future.
Do you think parents can use the materials from this project at home with their own teens?
The facilitation guide makes it easy for parents to lead conversations and activities at home. They can explore topics such as media representation, body image, healthy relationships, consent, social media, mental health, and bias with their teens in a way that is both accessible and engaging. Additionally, the curriculum offers a valuable opportunity for parents to initiate discussions about critical issues within their own families, such as equity in the home.
Do you have intro materials or videos you want to make sure people see?
Here is an introductory video featuring Jake, a member of our 2023-24 Youth Advisory Council, who played a role in developing our new gender equity curriculum alongside his fellow council members. In the video, Jake states, "It's clear that as the world changes, the way that we're raising our men to be is unsustainable, and The Representation Project has a great alternative in its healthy masculinity module... I really recommend you check it out." This video offers a compelling glimpse into the curriculum’s mission, urging viewers to join the conversation.
Can you tell me about the results you've seen from folks who piloted this curriculum?
The results from our pilot, conducted in two schools and an afterschool youth program, have been incredibly promising. College students facilitated workshops for high school students, evaluating their experiences prior to and after participating in the Gender Equity Training.
Students reported a 25.8% increase in their understanding of healthy masculinities and a 24.4% increase in knowledge about the history of gender justice activism. Additionally, there was a 14.3% increase in knowledge about gender justice issues and a 9.9% increase in healthy social media use. Students also experienced a 7.3% increase in their ability to effectively advocate for themselves.
Most notably, there was a significant reduction in overall sexism scores, dropping from 52.5 (out of 60) to 38.5. These measurable improvements demonstrate that the curriculum is not only resonating with students but also making a real impact in shifting their perspectives and behaviors.
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Wow this sound Fantastic! “Most notably, there was a significant reduction in overall sexism scores, dropping from 52.5 (out of 60) to 38.5.” I need to dig in and see how I can use it :)
Love this! @christopherpepper -- I am looking onto measuring like this for efforts involving boys and men and self/compassion. Do you know if the "after" measurement was at the end of the training or days/weeks later?